Kibaale journalist injured in strike.

Kibaale, 21st/July/2011; A Kibaale district freelance journalist Ismail Kasooha has been ill-treated while covering a strike by rioting students of St. Adolf Secondary School. Ismail Kasooha, a freelance with the New Vision and Kagadi Based Community Radio (KBCR) was reportedly hit with stones by rowdy students who also pelted stones at their teachers. The irate students staged a violent strike on 19th/July/2011 accusing their teachers of harassing them, giving them corporal punishments and failing to account for the examination fees. The students claimed that they paid Uganda Shillings 5,000 equivalent to US $ 2 for Mock exams but were surprised when the school gave them past papers of some schools from Mukono district. The strike has led to the closure of the school until the causes of the strike are addressed by the concerned authorities as a number of innocent people fallen victims of circumstances.
“The stones hit me on the chest and stomach. I fell down in pain and rescued by Anti Riot police led by Daniel Omara, the OC of Muhorro Police station” said Kasooha. He said he was rushed to a clinic in Kagadi town where he attained medical treatment. “It’s a pity that journalists in Uganda continue to suffer acts of violence with impunity from primary beneficiaries of media work who are supposed to protect them. There’s a need to deal with attitudes of politicians that have portrayed journalists as a nothing to do group which we believe have caused this problem” said HRNJ-Uganda Board Chairperson Robert Ssempala. HRNJ-Uganda calls upon media proprietors and managers especially electronic media to invest heavily media campaign which will shape public attitude. Kasooha is due to resume work next week.

For More Information Contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
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Tel: +256-414-272934 / +256-414-667627
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